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Network operator Sprint announced the launch of CloudCompute, an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) solution that integrates CSC’s virtualized, utility-based cloud computing solution with Sprint’s cloud-aware Global MPLS network.
Built on the Vblock platform, which combines virtualization software from VMware, unified networking, security and computing from Cisco, and storage, security and management technologies from EMC, CloudCompute offers businesses secure, private network access and connectivity from the subscriber’s business into the IaaS environment through a scalable and flexible network.
CloudCompute also offers on-demand provisioning and management capability through a Web portal, and strives for simplicity and user convenience with a single account team, one contract and one invoice for all services.
“Sprint’s IaaS offering is coming to market at an opportune time,” John Madden, principal analyst of IT services at technology research firm Ovum, said in a statement. “Customers are searching for the best options for cloud deployments including IaaS, and want to work with proven providers of IT services that are secure, reliable and well managed. Sprint’s relationship with CSC brings together high-profile skills of two trusted providers for IaaS: one with expertise in secure network services and management with ‘ownership’ of the cloud, the other with extensive experience in cloud and data center management. Sprint’s offering through its CSC collaboration gives customers another strong and viable option as they move ahead with their cloud decisions.”
Sprint secures the cloud from the edge to the endpoint by enabling separation through a virtual private network (VPN) for all traffic entering and leaving the Sprint cloud, use of a virtual local area network (VLAN) within the cloud to separate and protect traffic and data, and firewalls or virtual firewalls between organizations and between virtual applications in the organization’s cloud environment.
Sprint’s Global MPLS network is designed to provide low latency needed for real-time business applications. The company offers Class of Service (CoS) at no additional charge to help eliminate bottlenecks in a customer’s network through prioritization, and application performance is optimized through network-based Quality of Service (QoS) agreements.
Sprint offers a variety of cloud-based solutions in addition to IaaS, including Unified-Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) with Sprint Complete Collaboration and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) with Office 365. Sprint also delivers a private-label cloud services platform to wholesale customers, enabling them to deliver software services to small to medium-size businesses (SMBs).
“Sprint has a long history of providing comprehensive, integrated solutions,” Mike Fitz, vice president of wireline and solutions engineering at Sprint, said in a statement. “Companies can rely on Sprint as their single source for all their networking needs, which now includes cloud computing solutions. Investing in the network is critical to a company’s cloud strategy and success. Sprint’s all-IP network has the flexibility, scalability and reliability required to meet the performance demands of cloud applications.”